Art Analysis.

La Belle Epoque II

-Terry Bradley

This particular painting depicts an attractive model, with the deliberate exaggeration of her beauty, reflected mainly in the colours involved.

Within the face of the painting, a thick black line makes a point of emphasising and defining the distinctive cheekbone of the woman. It is by this process of exaggeration that Bradley’s work emphasises a sharp, emotive view of the subject. The colour black used boldly in the cheekbone is reflected within the tattoos shown. It is obvious that the female in the painting is trying to be portrayed as a conventional ‘femme fatale’ character as she is performing a seductive pose; however the tattoos challenge this stereotype as these types of tattoos are conventionally found on males. Going against this ‘stereotype’ raises a level of enigma within the painting, therefore causing an interest between the public and the way in which Terry Bradley works.  

Bradley can explain why he used such shapes in the tattoos: ‘‘I work from my mind, incorporating culture from a varied amount of places, such as in the streets of Paris. I even find myself seeing a shape or a curve, whether it is in a street, or a shape of an object, and I will put it in my painting.’’

The character in the painting can be defined as French simply because ‘Belle Epoque’ is French for ‘Beautiful Era’. It can be assumed that Bradley was trying to incorporate the French culture, with his own twist of tattoos and colour to create what can be defined as ‘a peculiar beauty’. As there is a restaurant in Belfast called ‘La Belle Epoque’, this is obviously one of the reasons that he has named his painting this. He has tried to create a link between France and Northern Ireland, in his art. 

Influences in art.

It is evident in the artwork of Northern Irish artist, Terry Bradley that his art work is very much in response to harsh realities and emotional ties in his life.

Belfast born Terry Bradley, born in 1965, is said to be one of Ireland’s most sought after artists. He started to paint full-time in the mid 90’s, focusing his eye on strong confident women, a subject matter he continues to find compelling and inspiring. Many of these women are taken from the modelling and fashion world. They reflect the two sides of Terry’s life - hard images of an after-dark nightlife in the city’s clubs and bars and a more gentle view of women after a dance performance. The two sides reflect the conflict in Bradley’s personality and art, with his self-confessed manic, dark side at odds with calmer more gentle periods.

Bradley says, '‘ in a way you could say that the first part of my life was the reason behind the second part. I earned the second part of my life; it was such a turn around from the first!’’

Bradley has more recently brought his attention to his own country, depicting characters based on Ireland’s hardworking docker industry around Belfast. He continues to exude vibrant colours, purposeful brushwork and exuberant scenarios in all his art work.

The main reason to why I believe the work of Terry Bradley is so popular with the public is because it is so different to normality. People enjoy enigma. They enjoy a cliff hanger, whether it is from a good book, film or a television series. I believe that the painting to the left is a true reflection of enigma. The numerous colours involved in the painting inject enigma into the painting. Not only does the colour add form and define shape into the painting, but the excessive of what seems like an addiction of colour by Terry Bradley, produces a totally new feeling from the painting.

Within the face of the painting, the thick black line makes a point of emphasising and defining the distinctive cheekbone. It is by this process of exaggeration that the artist has accomplished his aim, as the work is sharp and creative. It is obvious that the painter’s ability to deliver paintings of true quality is a testament to his talent. The colour black used boldly in the cheekbone is imitated within the tattoos shown. 

It is obvious that the female in the painting is trying to be portrayed as a conventional ‘femme fatale’ character as she is performing a seductive pose; however the tattoos challenge this stereotype as these types of tattoos are conventionally found on males. This again emphasises the level of enigma within the painting, therefore causing a large interest with the public. It can be understood that the character that Terry Bradley has based this painting on is a woman who wears a lot of make up. What I noticed from this is that the colours involved are used to over-emphasise the make up already on the face which allows us to understand that the painting involves both reality and imagination.  

This combination of reality and imagination is what I believe enhances the work of Terry Bradley, allowing it to stand out in the minds of the target audience.

The colour choice is excitingly vibrant and the colours used compliment each other so well, suggesting that the female’s face and attitude are very complimentary. Or contrastingly, Terry Bradley could be subtly aiming to portray her in this light. This goes to show that colour can be used to mould and produce many different emotions and atmospheres.

Design Studies, Assignment Three: Looking up, Looking down.

For this assignment, I have produced an annotated bibliography in association with: 

'designing urban environments as an attempt to minimise crime.'

I have Harvard referenced each source and produced annotations in response to what the source has provided. The content in my annotations reflect the relevance of the information given in general, and to me as an individual who has researched the subject.

Journals:
Bollens, S. A. (2006) Urban planning and peace building. Progress in Planning Vol 66, p.67-139
_The paper focuses on the role of urban planning and policy in societies that have experienced inter-group conflict, war, and major societal transformations. The writer looks at the reasons why a select few cities play a progressive role in shaping new societal paths, while others do not. I have been informed that planning and urban design professions have the potential to revitalize and redevelop public spaces, neighbourhoods and historic areas in ways that can promote healthy inter-group and interpersonal life. Urbanism plays a large role in aiming to prevent crime in public places. Urbanism can create physical and psychological spaces that can help peacemaking in run down areas within cities. 

Holyoak, J. (2006) Urban Design and Antisocial Behaviour. Urban Design Issue 97


_As the author is an architect and urban designer, he looks at renewed interest in the shaping and design of public spaces. He mentions the remodelling of old spaces in London, Birmingham and Newcastle. He contemplates the existence of 'well-designed environments'. He compares 'well designed spaces having a positive impact on the behaviour of the public' to 'authentic Gothic architecture making people into better Christians.' Do people really act differently depending on their surroundings?

Shaftoe, H. (2006) Behaving Badly In Public Places. Urban Design Issue 97

_In this paper the author wants to discover if there is a link between design of urban spaces and the way people behave in them. If a link is spotted, then action needs to be taken to promote good behaviour and prevent anti-social behaviour. The author talks about how a group of architects, geographers and criminologists par took in field experimentation, manipulating aspects of the environment to test if this had effect on levels of crime in an area. The paper explores how certain physical situations and environments can encourage anti-social behaviour or allow crime to occur. Environments with brutal designs, harsh environments or poorly designed open spaces are most common for practitioners of crime. As a method of controlling crime occurrence, we need to think about redesigning and securing such places to limit criminal activity. 


Roche, K. M., Enminger, M.E., Chilcoat, H., Storr, C. (2003) Establishing Independence in Low-Income Urban Areas: The Relationship to Adolescent Aggressive Behaviour. Journal of Marriage and Family Vol 65, No.3 p.668-680

_Those adolescents living in low-income Baltimore city neighbourhoods tend to have aggressive behaviour. This journal tends to explore how adolescents are brought up, and therefore having an influence on their involvement in crime. It looks at how girls are more likely to participate in care taking adult roles such as babysitting, therefore meaning that young boys get involved with crime more so than young girls.

Van Melik, R. et al (2007) Fear and Fantasy in the Public Domain: The Development of Secured and Themed Urban Space. Journal of Urban Design Vol 12, 25-42

_This journal explores how public spaces have been created and how they have been used for various purposes. It looks at investments that reinvigorate dilapidated public spaces so as to make public space more secure by taking steps to increase safety and reduce feelings of 'fear'. There is exploration of how CCTV has the potential to make public space safer. The journal also looks at how outdoor and pavement cafés satisfy what the public want within public spaces. I personally think that it's beneficial to have a place for comfort, relaxation, passive engagement with the environment, active engagement with the environment and discovery in a public space. I believe that these methods collectively act to reduce crime in public places and have the capability to increase entertainment/social aspects within public areas.

Books:
Hastings, F., Flint, J., McKenzie, C., Mills, C. (2005) Cleaning up Neighbourhoods: Environmental problems and service provision in deprived areas. Bristol: The Policy Press
_Identifies local characteristics which make some neighbourhoods particularly prone to environmental problems. Looks closely at how people in 'run-down' neighbourhoods feel – fearful, depressed, demoralised etc.

Jones, H. (ed.) (1993) Crime and the Urban Environment. Hants: Ashgate Publishing Limited p.69- 84

_Identifies that the environment acts as a 'barometer'. It is the public who determine the likelihood of criminal risk and in turn, evaluate the quality of urban life. This particular chapter looks at the relationship between the surrounding urban landscape and the fear of crime. It is physical and social cues that represent the factors associated with the safety of any local place. Places can appear dangerous not only because of the frequency of crime, but also the design. It can also depend on how familiar you are within a place. The people who live in a place can also affect how you feel within a place.

Newman, O. (1973) Defensible Space: People and Design in the Violet City. Great Britain: Architectural Press

_This book proves that prevention again crime in urban areas has been a problem, even in the seventies. Crime is a threat to all of society. Poorly designed building and projects have crime rates x3 than those of projects housing socially identical residents at a similar density.

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During this particular assignment I realised that the environment surrounding an individual can influence how they might act.

When public spaces are filled with graffiti, or if they are 'run-down' and unattractive, this can give more ammunition to criminals to 'ruin' areas.

Another criminal act known as 'shoplifting' is another crime that is a problem at present.  I do however feel like it's the responsibility of the shop them self to ensure that it is not easy for the shoplifter to commit their crime.  In shopping centres nowadays, some shops tend to have a lot of there stock half way out the door! - a strategy typically used to entice

the public into their shop!

-however it looks like it makes shoplifting EASIER for the criminal.

Shopping centre in Rhode Island

This example emphasises the importance of successful interior design.  Interior design is NOT just for the home, but for EVERY interior that exists in the world today.

How Artistic Movements influence my own personal art.

I would classify expressionism as being one of my favourite artistic movements. No other group of artists has so deeply influenced my art. Not only have I been able to take on board the techniques used by both expressionist artists and Irish artists, but I have also realised that the way in which a theme is trying to be illustrated on a canvas is equally important to what is actually presented on the canvas. 

I can perceive expressionism as a spiritual movement more than an art movement. Unlike modern movements such as impressionism, post-impressionism and fauvism, Expressionism was never seen as a unified group. If anything, I could describe it to be a dispersed group of loners, living in isolation on the edge of society. 

Within expressionist art, I can appreciate a depth of feeling, which I find to be lacking in modern art. The depth of feeling was shown through their emotions. They distorted reality in order to express their feelings for the world. This process can be looked upon as attention seeking behaviour. I feel that it is important to understand that the expressionists went against the flow. They were constantly in opposition to normality. While modern painting was realistic, expressionist painting used violent, garish, jarring colours, often taken straight from the tube so that the paint could be piled on excessively. They also used sharp contrasts of light and shade and contrasting colours. Expressionist art can be looked upon as pessimistic, particularly when compared to paintings within the impressionist movement.

Expressionists were seen to be making their painting dramatic and animated. They achieved this by creating paintings including street scenes, aggressive self-portraits, nudes and an overall infatuation with nature.

Most of the power that their work was driven by was often emotions of fear, panic, despair and sexual shame. I think they were tragically misunderstood for decades, if not completely. The public viewed expressionist art as being typically egotistical and emotionally unstable. 

The interesting concept that should be examined is that expressionist art was mainly based on honesty. This shines brightly in a world of what can be seen as ‘fake, polite’ paintings for ‘fake polite’ people. This is why I feel that expressionist art is art with a purpose. What is important to realise within art, is that there is a logical message to why it looks they way it does. The art they produce is what they want humanity to hear.

Design Studies: Craft

The dictionary definition of craft states that craft is 'An art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp manual skill.'


Craft can also involve artists projecting their work outside into the physical world.


On Friday's lecture we were shown examples of craft.


I was particularly interested by craft in the form of a 'knitted wedding.'  We were shown images from the wedding including:
- a knitted wedding dress
- knitted flowers
- knitted confetti
- knitted champagne

A knitted wedding dress and knitted confetti

Knitted champagne

Knitted sandwiches

A knitted camera, and knitted wedding outfits

A knitted wedding cake

The repeated use of the knitting theme is extremely effective, and obviously very relevant within the lives of the bride and groom.

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During the lecture, I was reminded how important community stands in our day to day lives.

We were shown a distribution diagram of the world, illustrating the income produced on average from each country.  By simply glancing at the diagram it was obvious what countries have a higher/lower GNP (Gross National Product).

Just because a particular country has a higher GNP, doesn't necessarily  mean that those living there have a higher standard of living than those who live in countries of a lower GNP.

My understanding of this is that the degree of happiness in a country is not necessarily directly proportional to the degree of wealth of those individuals who live there. 

Those in countries with a low GNP focus a lot upon their communities.  They work together and therefore are capable of leading pleasant lives/having a high standard of living.  I guess this illustrates that wealth does not have a direct influence on the quality of life of an individual. 

Design Studies. Think BIG!

Activity 2C: Thinking

After recording my thoughts and opinions throughout assignment two, I finally created a poster that reflects my ideas in more depth.

When completing assignment one, I found the topic of 'crime prevention' in chapter four of 'The Tipping Point' of particular interest.

What particularly interested me was the opportunity to resolve such a problem, through design.  I researched how 'landscape architecture' could potentially benefit such run down areas within cities.  Installing an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere within a space can only encourage positive behaviour with those individuals in the specified area, surely?

Individual poster: 'crime prevention'

Design Studies. Think BIG!

Activity 2B: Discussion

Following activity 2A, as a group we discussed crime prevention.  As we spoke, I took note of what was said so that I could produce my own individual mind map on the topic.

It is important to realise how discussion can have a positive influence on us as designers.  It is incredibly interesting to discover the opinions and idea of others.  

Following this exercise, I individually produced a mind map on 'crime prevention'.

Individual mind map on 'crime prevention'

The mind map explores areas such as how 'landscape architecture' and 'interior architecture' can help prevent crime.  

The combination of my own ideas intertwined with the ideas of others has proved to be successful in this activity.

Design Studies. Think BIG!

Activity 2A: Brainstorming

The second part of our assignment required a group of us to get together and brainstorm a specific topic from the book 'The Tipping Point', before going onto discuss how each part relates to design.


We were asked to work in small groups of either four or five people.  I decided to work alongside those in my class who looked at the topics 'crime' and 'connectors, mavens and salesmen' in assignment 1B, so that we could really get to grips with the assignment.


As a group, we focused on how connectors,  mavens and salesmen have the potential to make design successful.  We also brainstormed how people, such as connectors, actually connect with each other in this modern day world.  


Here are a few pictures of activity 2A:

Design Studies: Make Things|Make Sense

'Everything is designed the way it is for a reason.'


Design makes sense.


Or does it?


_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _




Today, Hazel White gave us a little insight into her life as both a jeweller and a designer.


The main question put forward was:


''WHO are you designing for?'' and ''WHAT are their needs?''


These questions are not exclusive to jewellers, but are also of extreme relevance to all existing designers in the world, whether they are architects, interior designers, graphic designers, or jewellers.


As designers, It is important that we know how to make sense of things, whether it's people, products, systems or services.


In relation to this, Hazel mentioned the design of the 'large, red emergency button' that elderly people are advised to wear around their necks in case they are in need of assistance.
The problem that has been identified with this particular design is that the 'large, red emergency button' poses as a 'I can't look after myself' device.


This example made me think.
-This design doesn't make sense.


Design has SO much potential.
It can be anything.


I believe that design needs to be challenged, - the 'large, red emergency button' for example..


Every design sends out a message.
All designs signify something..


The difficulty lies with making something like a 'large, red emergency button' aesthetically pleasing.
How can a device like this be beautiful?
Could it be an unique piece of jewellery!?


-I guess that's were we come in.  It's up to us as designers it to find away around it...

Design Studies, Good/Bad Design.

After Friday's lecture on Good and Bad design by Jonathan Baldwin, there was one element in particular that grabbed my attention.


Jonathan asked the entire lecture theatre to count the number of times a ball was passed between those wearing white t-shirts in the following video:


[Click on the link below to watch the video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo&feature=player_embedded



However, BEFORE showing the video, Jonathan stated that 'women can't count.'


I immediately disagreed.
I was also appalled that he could make such a statement.


The more Jonathan insisted that the females in the room would fail on this task, the more determined I was to correctly count the number of times the ball was passed by those in white t-shirts.


When watching the video, I was so focused on counting the number of passes, that I completely missed the appearance of a gorilla.


I couldn't believe I missed A GORILLA.


To my surprise, I realised a lot about myself after this task.
I realised that when I put my mind to something, I close down anything else going on in my mind, as a method of increasing my concentration. 
In some instances, this can be a positive way of working, however in the design world, there is potential of this having a detrimental effect on the process of design development, or possibly on design success.


I have realised that I need to expand my creative mind and be willing to LOOK AROUND ME at the obvious.  Sometimes thinking too much about a design can hinder us as designers...